System and method for remotely effecting a transaction between a provider of goods and/or services and a customer

Abstract

A system for remotely effecting a transaction between a provider of goods and/or services and a customer comprises at least one facility for providing goods and/or services to customers and a remote central computer system provided with a central database which includes a customer file. The central computer system is arranged to communicate with a customer for receiving information provided by the customer and providing instructions to the customer, and is further arranged for remote control of the at least one facility, and for dealing with the financial aspect of the transaction. The central computer system is arranged such that, via a mobile telephone of the customer, it can at least be activated for the release of goods and/or services desired by the customer and for dealing with the financial aspect of the transaction.

1 . A system for remotely effecting a transaction between a provider of goods and/or services and a customer, comprising at least one facility for providing goods and/or services to customers and a remote central computer system provided with a central database which includes a customer file, which central computer system is arranged to communicate with a customer for receiving information provided by the customer and providing instructions to the customer, and which central computer system is further arranged for remote control of the at least one facility, and for dealing with the financial aspect of the transaction, wherein the central computer system is arranged such that, via a mobile telephone of the customer, it can at least be activated for the release of goods and/or services desired by the customer and for dealing with the financial aspect of the transaction.  
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one facility is a gas station having at least one fuel pump.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein information from the central computer is transferred to the customer via a display installed at, on or in the facility.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein information from the central computer is transferred to the customer via a loudspeaker installed at, on or in the facility.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone of the customer, after breaking the connection, is automatically called back to confirm the correctness of information entered by the customer.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein to prevent unintended remote release of a facility, the central computer system is arranged to generate a control number which is reproduced on the display of the facility and which is sent back by the customer via the key panel of the mobile telephone of the customer.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein for the confirmation of the payment transaction, the customer is asked by the central computer system to enter a personal secret PIN code via the mobile telephone apparatus.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central computer is arranged to take a quantity limit and/or credit limit and/or a product or service restriction into account in the transactions.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central computer is arranged to send the customer instructions, a confirmation of the transaction and/or other information through an SMS message and/or an e-mail and/or to provide a receipt to confirm the transaction.  
     
     
         10 .A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central computer is arranged to identify the customer on the basis of his or her mobile telephone number.  
     
     
         11 . A system for remotely releasing a fuel pump and settling payment for fuel taken in by a customer, comprising at least one fuel pump and a remote central computer system provided with a central database which includes a customer file, which central computer system is arranged to communicate with a customer for receiving information provided by the customer and providing instructions to the customer, and which central computer system is further arranged for remote control of the at least one fuel pump, and for dealing with the financial aspect of the transaction, wherein the central computer system is arranged such that, via a mobile telephone of the customer, it can at least be activated for the release of a fuel pump selected by the customer and for dealing with the financial aspect of the transaction, wherein the central computer system is fisher arranged to generate a control number which is reproduced on the display of the fuel pump and which is sent back by the customer via the key panel of the mobile telephone of the customer, and wherein the central computer is further arranged to send the customer instructions, a confirmation of the transaction and/or other information through an SMS message and/or an e-mail and/or to provide a receipt to confirm the transaction.  
     
     
         12 . A method for the remote control of a transaction between a provider of goods and/or services and a customer desiring the goods and/or services, wherein use is made of a system according to one or more of  claims 1  to  11 .  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein via the display of the mobile telephone one or more special offers are presented to the customer.